Pentecostal Theological Seminary in Midst of Heritage Week
The Pentecostal Theological Seminary is celebrating its annual Heritage Week with events starting yesterday, October 28. The theme is “From Generation to Generation: Honoring Mothers and Fathers,” and the week’s activities include opportunities for students to interact with spiritual mothers and fathers who have had great influence on the Church of God and the Pentecostal movement.
Chapel services at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday and Thursday will feature roundtable conversations with guests sharing testimonies the faith of those who guided their spiritual journeys. Tuesday’s service included Mrs. Lorraine Alton, Dr. Donald Aultman, Mrs. Mary Fisher, and Dr. David Ramirez. Alton and her husband, William, served in Latin America where they were influential in establishing churches and mentoring young ministers. Aultman has been a prominent minister, administrator, and author, who has worked in numerous leadership positions including vice president and academic dean of Lee University. Originally from California, Fisher served alongside her husband Robert in the state overseer’s office for the Church of God in Hawaii, Maryland, and North Georgia, as well as the Department of General Education in Cleveland. Ramirez established the South American Seminary in Quito, Ecuador, where he served as president for 14 years and is currently the Director of Church of God Ministries in Latin America as well as a member of the Church of God International Executive Council.
Thursday’s chapel service will feature the Reverend Bonnie Brannen, Dr. Cheryl Bridges Johns, Dr. Victor Pagan, and the Reverend William Williams. Brannen, who still preaches at the age of 93, is the daughter of Church of God pioneer Lula Jones and along with her husband, Louis, pastored Church of God congregations in Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and Tennessee. Pagan’s earliest ministry was in Puerto Rico, but recently he was assistant director of Church of God World Missions, and he is a member of the Church of God International Executive Council. Johns is co-pastor of the New Covenant Church of God, Professor of Discipleship and Christian Formation, and holds the Robert E. Fisher Chair of Spiritual Renewal at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary. Williams has served the Church of God in many areas including the pastorate and the office of state overseer.
A luncheon following the Thursday chapel service will feature a conversation with Church of God Assistant General Overseer Dr. J. David Stephens and his wife, Joyce, on the significance of intergenerational ministry within families. Anyone wishing to attend Thursday’s luncheon should RSVP to Mrs. Glenda Mason ([email protected] or 423-478-1131).
According to Heritage Week Coordinator and Church of God Historian Dr. David Roebuck, the week’s activities were planned to connect spiritual generations, to honor mothers and fathers, and to bless sons and daughters.
“The inspiration for the week comes from two books that tell the stories of Church of God mothers and fathers,” Roebuck stated. “Dr. Donald S. Aultman and Dr. Steven J. Land edited ‘Faith of Our Fathers’ in 2009, and Dr. Aultman edited ‘Faith of Our Mothers’ this past spring. In both books, sons and daughters tell the spiritual journeys of their mothers and fathers emphasizing their faithfulness to the gospel and the passing of their faith to the next generation.”
As originally reported last week on Faith News, on Tuesday night the ninth annual Azusa Lecture was held in conjunction with Heritage Week. Dr. Rickie D. Moore presented “From Generation to Generation: The Call of the Word, the Cry of the Spirit, and the Turning of Hearts” in the North Cleveland Church of God’s Dixon Chapel. Moore is Professor of Old Testament at Lee University, where he also serves as the Associate Dean of Lee’s School of Religion.
Following the lecture, missionary and educator Dr. James M. Beaty was honored with the Spirit of Azusa Award and a reception.
Heritage Week will conclude with the annual PTS Church of God Heritage Tour on Saturday, November 1. Dr. Roebuck will lead the tour, which will include the site of the Barney Creek Meetinghouse where the Church of God began in 1886, the Shearer Schoolhouse site, the W.F. Bryant home place (now Fields of the Wood) and the First Assembly House. Transportation will be provided and participants may bring a lunch or purchase one at Fields of the Wood. The tour will leave from the parking lot between the seminary and the North Cleveland Church at 8:00 a.m. and return by 5:00 p.m. For more information about any of the Heritage Week activities contact Roebuck at [email protected] or 423-614-8576.
